Darkstar - ST

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Rainbow Sunsets	03:56
	2	Mind Teazer	03:07
	3	I Was Made For You	03:50
	4	Private Eye	02:29
	5	For Yesterday	04:17

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	On My Way	04:10
	2	Dreams Can't Be Wrong	04:11
	3	Time & Time Again	03:47
	4	Gypsy Rover	03:29
	5	Reflections	03:00

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Darkstar & The Foxrun Band — The Chipman/Cassar Story

In the heart of Toronto’s vibrant 1970s music scene, guitarist-keyboardist Timothy Chipman joined forces with brothers James-Paul Cassar (bass) and Peter Cassar (drums) to carve out their own musical path. Like many groups of the era, they began small—playing bars, clubs, and shows around Ontario, refining their original songs and live presence under the name Darkstar.

By 1976, their ambitions took them beyond the local circuit. On a trip to New York, they connected with songwriter Al Munson. Impressed by Darkstar’s performances, Munson encouraged them to record two of his songs. This led to two singles on the Lifesong label, “Holy Roller / (You Can Have The) Best of Everything” and “Sweet Delight.” Neither achieved commercial breakthrough, so the band returned home with renewed determination.

Wanting more creative control, Darkstar established their own label, Ariel Records, in 1978. Under this banner they released their debut LP Into the Heartland, with singles like “Hit & Run Lover” and “Into the Heartland / One More Time”. The style was solidly in the rock-prog lineage: expansive songs, heavy rhythms, and guitar/keyboard interplay, but despite the strong musicianship, chart success eluded them.

In 1979 they rebranded themselves briefly as The Foxrun Band, bringing in saxophonist/vocalist Margo Davidson to enrich their sound. They recorded You’re Invited, an album that kept the core Darkstar DNA while aiming to widen their appeal. Yet again, success was modest. In 1980, they reverted to Darkstar and issued Escape Routines. A single from this album, “Postcard from Jamaica”, got some local chart traction and landed them more prominent gigs, though follow-ups didn’t build on that momentum.

As the years progressed the cycle of albums, name-changes, and singles continued: Foxrun’s Embrace (1981) brought back Davidson’s contributions; otherwise, the band oscillated between Darkstar and Foxrun identities, trying different styles and lineups. Their label Ariel also signed a handful of other artists, showing that Chipman and the Cassar brothers were invested not just in performing but in building a small scene around original Canadian work.

By 1984, original members were moving on; the Cassar brothers eventually left recording, and though Timothy Chipman tried new projects (notably The Play and Sierra Blue) and briefly revived the Foxrun name, none of the later releases managed to capture wide attention. The label folded, and the band gradually slipped from view.

Despite the lack of major hits, Darkstar / Foxrun left behind a body of work that reflects the ambitions, frustrations, and talents of a Canadian band navigating the post-CAN-CON era. Their albums remain artifacts of that time—deeply musical, carefully arranged, sometimes trying too hard to find a commercial edge, but always authentic in intent.
-Robert Williston

All songs written by Timothy Chipman
Nino Palazzolo: lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, acoustic guitar
Michael Kohuch: bass, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars
Bob Stephenson: lead and harmony vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
Brian Doerner (Helix): drums, percussion

Produced by Darkstar and Chuck Price
Engineered by Chuck Price and Rick Anderse in Toronto, Ontario
Engineered by Chuck Price and Chuck Reynolds in Windsor, Ontario
Mastered by Peter Norman at McClear Place, Toronto, Ontario

Photography by Wild's Studio, Windsor, Ontario

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